Sports

Gayle, Sangakkara refuse to play PSL final in Lahore

Karachi Kings stars have made the decision despite being made lucrative offers

Sports Desk February 20, 2017

PHOTO: PSL

Karachi Kings' Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have refused to travel to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final despite being made lucrative financial offers by the league organisers.

As many as 50 cricketers expressed their desire to partake in the title-deciding match after the PSL organisers, following a high-level meeting, decided to go ahead and hold the match in Lahore, per Express News

However, absent from the list was the star trio of Gayle, Sangakkara and Jayawardene, who have refused to travel to Pakistan, citing the country's volatile security conditions.

Babar-ic Azam gifts Karachi first win in PSL2

The PCB, in order to bring international players on board, has reportedly offered between $10,000 and $50,000 to the said players on top of the salaries they are already receiving.

COMMENTS (17)

haasham | 7 years ago | Reply PSL final has to be held in UAE

Aqeel | 7 years ago | Reply If Nawaz and Shahbaz sharif pledge to attend the final in Lahore, it would send a very encouraging signal to all the players who are still having second thoughts.

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Sharath Chandra | 7 years ago | Reply HeHeHe wait and watch & good luck to all spectators .

Giri | 7 years ago | Reply There is only one solution as expressed by one franchise owner...Army chief and Nawaz Sharief must sit within 50 feet distance from the players and come and go by same route within 5 minutes of player arrival and departure. That is the only way to instill belief in players that establishment is serious about security. Can PCB arrange that?

FAZ | 7 years ago | Reply @Farru: The biggest reason being, the cancellation of their life insurance. Money matters

Ahmar Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Gayle, Sangakkara and Jayawardene's team won't even make it to PSL Final so who cares?

M.S. | 7 years ago | Reply Can't blame them. Surely, with help of Pakistan Army, PCB wii hold final without any incident but would it be called a safe event? Calling army for help and every law enforcement agency to work 24/7 for security is a proof that it is not a safe environment to play cricket without fear.

Saeed Masood | 7 years ago | Reply Send these two guys back home immediately there are many more ready to play in Lahore...

PrasadDeccani | 7 years ago | Reply @Arbab firdos: "Dear brother i think no country in the world is safe as it was some twenty years back" I agree with you 100% on that.

Waseem Sarwar | 7 years ago | Reply They have their reasons but holding final in Pakistan will be a nice start. I am sure if everything goes fine and overall security condition improve , we might see teams starting to tour again. PCB could have played U19's in PSL final and people will still fill Qadaffi.

Komal S | 7 years ago | Reply It would be unfair to expect Sri Lankans to play at Lahore. It is a bold decision by PCB, technically they will bring the playe s few hours before the match and fly them out immediately after the match. No night stay, they. Can manage it, with additional dough they can make it happen.

Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply I don't blame them ..... its not an easy decision.

Arbab firdos | 7 years ago | Reply Psl must be played in pakistan'Dont be affraid of death,Everybody has to die on fixed date as fixed by Allah

Arbab firdos | 7 years ago | Reply Dear brother i think no country in the world is safe as it was some twenty years back.But no problam we adjusted ourself according to the prasant satuation

Samrat | 7 years ago | Reply 3 wickets are down already, as I said not everyone is as desperate as Zimbabweans.

Muneer | 7 years ago | Reply Quality of cricket will surely be affected by holding PSL final in Lahore at this stage.Drafts other than original players of the teams will be participating for sake of money and not quality/ good cricket.There will hardly be any team spirit,only individualism.Pakistan cricket is likely to lose more then gain.

Farru | 7 years ago | Reply Sad, but no problem. They must have their own genuine reasons. The final in Lahore will be a superb event

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